A major drive to get more black teachers into the classroom will be launched this week by MPs and campaigners who say the change will improve the performance of black boys. The campaign, which will be led by the MP Diane Abbott and Ken Livingstone, the mayor of London, has the support of government ministers but has already been attacked by parents who say children simply need good teachers, whatever their race.

'One thing that makes a difference is teachers who are culturally literate,' said Abbott. 'The teachers do not have to be black, but the mayor's main policy aim is to have a teaching workforce that looks like Britain.'

In London, she added, just 12 per cent of teachers were black while in some areas half the children were. On Saturday a black teachers' network will be launched to provide support to teachers but also encourage them to explain cultural differences to their non-black colleagues.

According to Abbott, some white teachers misunderstand the way that black boys behave, seeing them as aggressive because of a 'culture gap', while others stereotype pupils.

At her own school Abbott was taught by a teacher who she said expected her to be good at netball but was sceptical when she wanted to apply to the University of Cambridge, where she later studied. 'I am not saying there are not white teachers who get excellent results with black children,' she added. 'But if there is a critical mass of black teachers in the workforce you get a more culturally literate workforce overall.'

The MP said she had the support of the government and had been to a seminar at the Department for Children, Schools and Families where Andrew Adonis, the schools minister who will also speak on Saturday, said he was committed to the same goal.

Steve Sinnott, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: 'The reason we want more black teachers in the classroom is not about quality of teaching but aspiration. If they see black teachers, they will aspire to be teachers themselves.' But, he said children most wanted good teachers whatever their ethnic background.

Margaret Morrissey, of the National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations, said she saw no need for the campaign. 'Sometimes we make a divide that children would never have noticed,' she said. 'Grown-ups see black, white, Muslim, but children do not. The more you tell them they are different, the more they start thinking they are.'